Emergencies: kerosene ingestion: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Pediatrics · Emergencies: kerosene ingestion

Sample item

A 2-year-old drank kerosene and is coughing with respiratory distress. Which statement guides management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Do not induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage because of aspiration risk

Kerosene is a hydrocarbon with low viscosity and high aspiration potential, so emesis and lavage are contraindicated. Management is supportive with oxygen and monitoring for chemical pneumonitis. Steroids and prophylactic antibiotics are not routinely recommended.

Option by option

  • A. Do not induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage because of aspiration risk (correct)

    Correct. Avoid emesis and lavage.

  • B. Give activated charcoal and induce vomiting

    Charcoal does not bind hydrocarbons well and vomiting is dangerous.

  • C. Give milk to neutralise

    Milk does not neutralise a hydrocarbon.

  • D. Induce vomiting immediately

    Vomiting increases aspiration risk.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pediatrics questions

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Do not induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage because of aspiration risk. Kerosene is a hydrocarbon with low viscosity and high aspiration potential, so emesis and lavage are contraindicated.

Why is "Give activated charcoal and induce vomiting" not the answer?

Charcoal does not bind hydrocarbons well and vomiting is dangerous.

Why is "Give milk to neutralise" not the answer?

Milk does not neutralise a hydrocarbon.

Why is "Induce vomiting immediately" not the answer?

Vomiting increases aspiration risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Emergencies: kerosene ingestion in Pediatrics. Management is supportive with oxygen and monitoring for chemical pneumonitis. Steroids and prophylactic antibiotics are not routinely recommended.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Emergencies: kerosene ingestion?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.